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January 26, 2010 - Smart City Networks announced that it has been awarded a five-year contract to continue its role as an exclusive event technology provider at the SMG-managed Greater Columbus Convention Center (GCCC), effective this month.

“We host hundreds of meeting and events every year, each with their own unique technology needs,” said Craig Liston, SMG regional general manager of the Greater Columbus Convention Center. “We depend on the excellent customer service and quality technology services provided by Smart City to meet our visitors’ needs. We are very pleased to continue our long-standing partnership.”

“We greatly value the confidence the Greater Columbus Convention Center has in Smart City services and our local team,” said Mark Haley, president of Smart City Networks. “After a successful 10-year partnership, we look forward to continuing to serve this premier facility in the new decade ahead.”

Since 2000, Smart City has provided the event technology services at the Greater Columbus Convention Center under its subsidiary company acquired in 2006.

Smart City continues to overhaul the facility’s entire network, replacing and upgrading each aspect of the network including a full-building 802.11A/B/G/N Wi-Fi™ system. Key areas of the exhibit halls will also have their network cabling upgraded to deliver more bandwidth to the event floor. The upgrades are in conjunction with the renovation of the Battelle Hall into the new Battelle Grand, which is one of the largest multipurpose ballrooms in Ohio, featuring 50,000 square feet of main floor space and a 24,000-square-foot mezzanine.

Led locally by Jeffrey Greenwood, general manager for technology services, Smart City will continue to provide high-speed Internet access using Ethernet protocols to all exhibit spaces, meeting rooms and facility tenants. Turnkey data networking services will also be available, including local area networks (LANs), wide area networks (WANs) and private networks, all using the latest technology.

Smart City also provides the Greater Columbus Convention Center with an entry-level wireless service, which can be accessed throughout the convention center by using a Wi-Fi™-compatible network card and is ideal for Web surfing and checking e-mail. The wireless network offers Internet access to exhibitors as well as event attendees.

Founded in 1984, Smart City Networks is one of the nation’s largest providers of event technology in the convention industry. With corporate headquarters in Las Vegas, Smart City Networks provides clients with design, installation and maintenance of data, voice, electrical and utility platforms, coupled with unparalleled voice, video and data network engineering, security and monitoring across the United States. Smart City Networks also provides services to more than 5,000 trade shows at more than 43 convention centers located in Alabama, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Minnesota, Nevada, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, Washington and the District of Columbia.

The Greater Columbus Convention Center, located in downtown Columbus, hosted an estimated 2.5 million visitors in 2009. The facility is owned by the Franklin County Convention Facilities Authority and is managed by Philadelphia-based SMG. Since 1977, SMG has provided management services to more than 220 public assembly facilities including arenas, stadiums, theatres and performing arts centers, equestrian facilities and convention, congress and exhibition centers. With facilities across the globe, SMG manages more than 11 million square feet of exhibition space. As the recognized global industry leader, SMG provides construction and design consulting, pre-opening services, venue management, sales, marketing, event booking and programming. SMG also offers food and beverage operations through an in-house catering company, Savor, currently servicing more than 100 accounts worldwide.